Study Desk

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.

God is our refuge^(a) and strength,^(b) an ever-present^(c) help^(d) in trouble.^(e)

Therefore we will not fear,^(f) though the earth give way^(g) and the mountains fall^(h) into the heart of the sea,⁽ⁱ⁾

though its waters roar^(j) and foam^(k) and the mountains quake^(l) with their surging.^[c]

There is a river^(m) whose streams⁽ⁿ⁾ make glad the city of God,^(o) the holy place where the Most High^(p) dwells.^(q)

God is within her,^(r) she will not fall;^(s) God will help^(t) her at break of day.

Nations^(u) are in uproar,^(v) kingdoms^(w) fall; he lifts his voice,^(x) the earth melts.^(y)

The Lord Almighty^(z) is with us;^(aa) the God of Jacob^(ab) is our fortress.^(ac)

Come and see what the Lord has done,^(ad) the desolations^(ae) he has brought on the earth.

He makes wars^(af) cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow^(ag) and shatters the spear; he burns the shields^[d] with fire.^(ah)

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God;^(ai) I will be exalted^(aj) among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob^(ak) is our fortress.^(al)

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Clap your hands,^(a) all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.^(b)

For the Lord Most High^(c) is awesome,^(d) the great King^(e) over all the earth.

He subdued^(f) nations under us, peoples under our feet.

He chose our inheritance^(g) for us, the pride of Jacob,^(h) whom he loved.^[b]

God has ascended⁽ⁱ⁾ amid shouts of joy,^(j) the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.^(k)

Sing praises^(l) to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.

For God is the King of all the earth;^(m) sing to him a psalm⁽ⁿ⁾ of praise.

God reigns^(o) over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.^(p)

The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings^[c] of the earth belong to God;^(q) he is greatly exalted.^(r)

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Great is the Lord ,^(a) and most worthy of praise,^(b) in the city of our God,^(c) his holy mountain.^(d)

Beautiful^(e) in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon^[b](f) is Mount Zion,^(g) the city of the Great King.^(h)

God is in her citadels;⁽ⁱ⁾ he has shown himself to be her fortress.^(j)

When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together,^(k)

they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror.^(l)

Trembling seized^(m) them there, pain like that of a woman in labor.⁽ⁿ⁾

You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish^(o) shattered by an east wind.^(p)

As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever.^[c](q)

Within your temple, O God, we meditate^(r) on your unfailing love.^(s)

Like your name,^(t) O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;^(u) your right hand is filled with righteousness.

Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments.^(v)

Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers,^(w)

consider well her ramparts,^(x) view her citadels,^(y) that you may tell of them to the next generation.^(z)

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide^(aa) even to the end.

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Hear^(a) this, all you peoples;^(b) listen, all who live in this world,^(c)

both low and high,^(d) rich and poor alike:

My mouth will speak words of wisdom;^(e) the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.^(f)

I will turn my ear to a proverb;^(g) with the harp^(h) I will expound my riddle:⁽ⁱ⁾

Why should I fear^(j) when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—

those who trust in their wealth^(k) and boast^(l) of their great riches?^(m)

No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—

the ransom⁽ⁿ⁾ for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—^(o)

so that they should live on^(p) forever and not see decay.^(q)

For all can see that the wise die,^(r) that the foolish and the senseless^(s) also perish, leaving their wealth^(t) to others.^(u)

Their tombs^(v) will remain their houses^[b] forever, their dwellings for endless generations,^(w) though they had^[c] named^(x) lands after themselves.

People, despite their wealth, do not endure;^(y) they are like the beasts that perish.^(z)

This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,^(aa) and of their followers, who approve their sayings.^[d]

They are like sheep and are destined^(ab) to die;^(ac) death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail^(ad) over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.

But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;^(ae) he will surely take me to himself.^(af)

Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;

for they will take nothing^(ag) with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.^(ah)

Though while they live they count themselves blessed—^(ai) and people praise you when you prosper—

they will join those who have gone before them,^(aj) who will never again see the light^(ak) of life.

People who have wealth but lack understanding^(al) are like the beasts that perish.^(am)

A psalm of Asaph.

The Mighty One, God, the Lord ,^(a) speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.^(b)

From Zion,^(c) perfect in beauty,^(d) God shines forth.^(e)

Our God comes^(f) and will not be silent;^(g) a fire devours^(h) before him,⁽ⁱ⁾ and around him a tempest^(j) rages.

He summons the heavens above, and the earth,^(k) that he may judge his people:^(l)

"Gather to me this consecrated people,^(m) who made a covenant⁽ⁿ⁾ with me by sacrifice."

And the heavens proclaim^(o) his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.^[a][b](p)

"Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify^(q) against you, Israel: I am God, your God.^(r)

I bring no charges^(s) against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings,^(t) which are ever before me.

I have no need of a bull^(u) from your stall or of goats^(v) from your pens,^(w)

for every animal of the forest^(x) is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.^(y)

I know every bird^(z) in the mountains, and the insects in the fields^(aa) are mine.

If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world^(ab) is mine, and all that is in it.^(ac)

Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

"Sacrifice thank offerings^(ad) to God, fulfill your vows^(ae) to the Most High,^(af)

and call^(ag) on me in the day of trouble;^(ah) I will deliver^(ai) you, and you will honor^(aj) me."

But to the wicked person, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant^(ak) on your lips?^(al)

You hate^(am) my instruction and cast my words behind^(an) you.

When you see a thief, you join^(ao) with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.^(ap)

You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.^(aq)

You sit and testify against your brother^(ar) and slander your own mother's son.

When you did these things and I kept silent,^(as) you thought I was exactly^[c] like you. But I now arraign^(at) you and set my accusations^(au) before you.

"Consider this, you who forget God,^(av) or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:^(aw)

Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless^[d] I will show my salvation.^(ax)"